Garmin International, Inc.

About Garmin International, Inc.

Garmin hopes to make stopping to ask for directions a thing of the past. The company manufactures navigation products that use Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to wirelessly deliver geographic location data through satellite communications. Its portable products incorporate electronic maps and navigational charts. Garmin also makes communications devices that combine cellular and GPS technology. Manufacturers such as Bombardier, Toyota, and Viking Yacht incorporate Garmin equipment into their products. The company sells its consumer products through retailers including Best Buy, Academy, and Wal-Mart, as well as through distributors and independent dealers.

Operations

Garmin's automotive products bring in the most sales for the company, some 37% of revenue. If they're not driving, perhaps Garmin's customers are walking or running because its gear for fitness devices accounts for 24% of revenue. Products for the outdoors, aviation, marine markets bring in 15%, 14%, and 10% of revenue.

Geographic Reach

Sales in the Americas account for a bit more than half of Garmin's revenue with Europe generating 36% and the Asia/Pacific region, 12%. A/P sales rose 22% in 2015 while sales in the other regions declined 4% each.

Profit jumped 25% to $456 million in 2015 from $364 million in 2014 as the company realized a tax benefit.

Cash from operations slowed to $280 million in 2015 from $522 million the year before.

Strategy

Garmin's roadmap for growth has its research and development operation as its north star. The company has more than 3,400 people -- about a quarter of overall employment -- working on new products. The company spent 8% more on R&D in 2015 from 2014.

While in-house R&D is important, Garmin also tracks down and acquires technologies that help it expand it product portfolio and market penetration.

Mergers and Acquisitions

In 2016 Garmin made a series of deals that followed its acquisition strategy to a T.

In March Garmin acquired DeLorme, a privately-held company that designs and markets consumer based satellite tracking devices with two-way communication and navigational capabilities. Garmin folded DeLorme products into its lineup.